Noisy and incredibly smokey Antonov AN-12BK takes off from Sydney airport. The smoke trail is even obvious against the body of the plane itself, not just against the sky. This is a very unusual visitor.

Noisy and incredibly smokey Antonov AN-12BK takes off from Sydney airport. The smoke trail is even obvious against the body of the plane itself, not just against the sky. This is a very unusual visitor.

Noisy and incredibly smokey Antonov AN-12BK takes off from Sydney airport. The smoke trail is even obvious against the body of the plane itself, not just against the sky. This is a very unusual visitor.

Noisy and incredibly smokey Antonov AN-12BK takes off from Sydney airport. The smoke trail is even obvious against the body of the plane itself, not just against the sky. This is a very unusual visitor.

Noisy and incredibly smokey Antonov AN-12BK takes off from Sydney airport. The smoke trail is even obvious against the body of the plane itself, not just against the sky. This is a very unusual visitor.

Noisy and incredibly smokey Antonov AN-12BK takes off from Sydney airport. The smoke trail is even obvious against the body of the plane itself, not just against the sky. This is a very unusual visitor.

Noisy and incredibly smokey Antonov AN-12BK takes off from Sydney airport. The smoke trail is even obvious against the body of the plane itself, not just against the sky. This is a very unusual visitor.

Noisy and incredibly smokey Antonov AN-12BK takes off from Sydney airport. The smoke trail is even obvious against the body of the plane itself, not just against the sky. This is a very unusual visitor.

Noisy and incredibly smokey Antonov AN-12BK takes off from Sydney airport. The smoke trail is even obvious against the body of the plane itself, not just against the sky. This is a very unusual visitor.

Cathay Pacific Cargo's brand new Boeing 747-867F in the Hong Kong Trader colour scheme leaves Sydney. It was the first ever visit of a Boeing 747-8 into Sydney airport. B-LJA is the registration of this aircraft which is powered by very quiet GEnx engines. Compared with a traditional B747-400F, this plane is longer, has different engines and a radically different wing.

Cathay Pacific Cargo's brand new Boeing 747-867F in the Hong Kong Trader colour scheme leaves Sydney. It was the first ever visit of a Boeing 747-8 into Sydney airport. B-LJA is the registration of this aircraft which is powered by very quiet GEnx engines. Compared with a traditional B747-400F, this plane is longer, has different engines and a radically different wing.

Cathay Pacific Cargo's brand new Boeing 747-867F in the Hong Kong Trader colour scheme arrives into Sydney marking the first ever visit of a Boeing 747-8 into Sydney airport. B-LJA is the registration of this aircraft which is powered by very quiet GEnx engines. Compared with a traditional B747-400F, this plane is longer, has different engines and a radically different wing.

Cathay Pacific Cargo's brand new Boeing 747-867F in the Hong Kong Trader colour scheme arrives into Sydney marking the first ever visit of a Boeing 747-8 into Sydney airport. B-LJA is the registration of this aircraft which is powered by very quiet GEnx engines. Compared with a traditional B747-400F, this plane is longer, has different engines and a radically different wing.

Cathay Pacific Cargo's brand new Boeing 747-867F in the Hong Kong Trader colour scheme arrives into Sydney marking the first ever visit of a Boeing 747-8 into Sydney airport. B-LJA is the registration of this aircraft which is powered by very quiet GEnx engines. Compared with a traditional B747-400F, this plane is longer, has different engines and a radically different wing.

Cathay Pacific Cargo's brand new Boeing 747-867F in the Hong Kong Trader colour scheme arrives into Sydney marking the first ever visit of a Boeing 747-8 into Sydney airport. B-LJA is the registration of this aircraft which is powered by very quiet GEnx engines. Compared with a traditional B747-400F, this plane is longer, has different engines and a radically different wing.

Etihad A340-600 now sporting the 40 years spirit of the union decal seen in numerous products and locations of the UAE, including Dubai TV news, Emirates A380 A6-EDD, celebrating this very special year of the UAE.

Cathay Pacific Cargo's brand new Boeing 747-867F in the Hong Kong Trader colour scheme leaves Sydney. It was the first ever visit of a Boeing 747-8 into Sydney airport. B-LJA is the registration of this aircraft which is powered by very quiet GEnx engines. Compared with a traditional B747-400F, this plane is longer, has different engines and a radically different wing.

Etihad A340-642 A6-EHJ wearing the 2009 edition of the eye-catching F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix colour scheme. Easily the most colourful A340 in the skies. It is seen here in early evening with a curious dusty background that swept through on this day.

The first visit of an Emirates SkyCargo Boeing 777-200F, and also the first visit of a B777-200F to Sydney airport. The plane later left for Stewart International Airport, direct from Sydney. The flight time was 17.5 hours. The tower was overheard remarking 'better you than us' in reference to the ultra long-haul flight.

A Thai Boeing B777-300 takes off from Sydney airport. At the time of this photo, it was still wearing the classical colour scheme of the airline. A Mineralogy McDonnell-Douglas is seen in the background.

Qantas Airbus A380-842 VH-OQA 'Nancy-Bird Walton' takes off from Sydney airport in rainy conditions. This plane has been out of service due to the QF32 engine dramas, but should return to service some time in 2012.